Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Welcome to Clueless, our informal weekly clue-setting competition.

The idea is to compose a cryptic clue to a given word.

The winner of the previous week’s competition both sets the word to be clued and judges the entries for the current week.

The judge’s decision is final; reasons may or may not be given at the judge’s discretion. It is customary for the judge to donate a virtual prize to the winner.

To be fair to others, please do not make any comments on entries until after the winner has been declared.

Multiple entries may be submitted and new competitors are particularly welcome!

The answer to be clued is: SYNCOPATION (11)

Clues to be submitted by 18:00 GMT tomorrow (Wednesday 26 June) with the winner being announced soon after. (i.e. after I wake up!)

An extra task this week: please include your parsing, even if you think it is obvious! I would hate to overlook your brilliant and erudite clue just because I couldn't 'get it' - thanks!

Did you say sin and copulation? No? Still sounds rather off-beat. (11)

(Always wanted to be first!!!!!)

Crazy psycho nationalist loses hot celeb status and gets unusually stressed (11)


(anag psycho nationalist – h – “a”list, def)

It's wrong to contend Shiva Thapa with Mike Tyson, panic over suffering blood loss (11)

Triple clue:
It's wrong (sin) + to contend (cope) + Shiva Thapa (asian) / with Mike (Homophone - with microphone)
Sin - cope - asian

Tyson panic O (ver) = anag fodder / suffering = anagrind

blood loss (to the brain) = Definition

NB: Shiva Thapa is an Indian boxer who was inspired by Mike Tyson (he was previously into football and athletics)

Bo's'n perhaps, is not yo' cap'n(11)

Cool, peachy notations create good dance music (11).
subtractive anag. remove heat from peachy notations. def= good dance music

Elision to coincide with work by a famous misanthrope. (11)

elision (def) - removal of middle letter
to coincide = SYNC
work by a = OP+A
famous misanthrope = TIMON
SYNCOPATI(m)ON

Tony's first concert piano played un-rhythmically (11)


Anagram of Tony's piano and c (first of concert)

Played being the anagram indicator.

Un-rhythmically being the definition

Rhythm method; sounds of eg lust. The catch? The end of procreation.(11)

Def,
lust is an example of a Deadly Sin, sounds makes this syn,
catch is cop
plus end of the last word.

Retired policeman, perhaps, wishing he were back at work? (11)

&lit clue - no def.